River tourism, reserve your boat !
The river Charente with its meandres, lush foliage, moorhends... Enjoy cruising on its calm waters and mooring wherever takes your fancy.
Visit Charente
Official Charente Tourist BoardRiver tourism : navigate on the cheerful river
» Activities » River tourism : navigate on the cheerful river
From Angoulême to the sea
From earliest times, the river has been used to move men and goods.
The gabarres, these flat-bottomed boats, loaded with cereals, stone, eaux-de-vie, wood, metals, paper and felts were borne by the current down to the ocean.
The goods were then exported from the Atlantic ports to the countries of northern Europe. On their return, with their holds full of salt, fish and coal, the boats were pulled by oxen or horses moving slowly along the towpath.
Then the railway arrived and the bargees gradually disappeared. Follow in the wake of the gabarres with your own boat.
Nature and scenic views
Vines painted on the sweeping slopes, limestone cliffs, façades decorated with slender hollyhocks in full bloom... The Charente meanders round villages of white stone, slips under humpback bridges, spreads into multiple waterways embracing leafy green islets. The river passes through the gentle countryside which is very inviting when you feel the urge to go ashore.
Alder, water fennel, reeds and irises have taken over the banks, just like the mallard, moorhen, kingfisher and grey heron... For anglers : carp, trout, pikeperch, pike, eels, roach, gudgeon, minnows and so on...
Activities
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